The most surprising celebrity splits: gallery

One of Hollywood's most loved-up couples shocked fans when their split was announced in September 2016.

Angelina's lawyer Robert Offer confirmed the news, saying that the actress had filed for "dissolution of marriage". He added that the "decision was made for the health of the family".

"She will not be commenting, and asks that the family be given its privacy at this time," Robert said.

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Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber

Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber announced in September 2016 that they were parting ways after 11 years together. The longterm couple - who are parents to sons Alexander (Sasha) eight, and seven-year-old Samuel - released a joint statement confirming their separation.

"Over the past few months we've come to the conclusion that the best way forward for us as a family is to separate as a couple," it read.

"It is with great love, respect and friendship in our hearts that we look forward to raising our children together and exploring this new phase of our relationship.

"While we appreciate your curiosity and support, we ask the press to be mindful of our children and respect their right to privacy."

Just 15 months after their beach wedding, the Hollywood stars split in May 2016.

Amber, 30, filed for divorce from the film star in Los Angeles Superior Court, citing irreconcilable differences. She listed the date of their separation as 22 May, just two days after Johnny's mum passed away.

"Taylor and I have always believed we are soulmates. Just like all couples we have ups and downs and we have been taking a break," she wrote.

"We are both ambitious artists, hoping to work through long distance and complicated schedules to continue the simple love we have always shared. Please root us on. We're just like everybody else and we really love each other."

After a five year on-off romance, Jennifer Lopez and Casper Smart quietly went their separate ways in the summer of 2016. News of their split was revealed in August, although sources confirmed that the couple had actually been separated for "a few weeks" by that point.

"It wasn't anything dramatic, and they were on good terms – it just came to a natural end," an insider told People. "They will remain friends and they see each other, but they are not together. It was very amiable."

Their love story is over. In June 2016 fans were shocked to hear that music power couple Taylor and Calvin had called it a day.

Although the couple haven't immediately confirmed the split themselves, a source told People: "There was no drama. Things just don't work out sometimes. No one cheated."

Other reports claimed that Taylor and Calvin, who celebrated their first-year anniversary in March, had drifted apart and become "friends" rather than lovers.

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Princess Martha Louise of Norway and Ari Behn

In August came the sad news that Princess Martha Louise of Norway and her husband Ari Behn were ending their 14 year marriage. In a candid statement, Martha Louise said of their decision to divorce, "there is nothing more we can do".

"Life does not always go smoothly," she said. "Both Ari and I have experienced this…These days we were mainly apart. We are ending the marriage but we are remaining together in parenthood.

"We have tried everything for a long time and we still cannot be where we were before, making it impossible for us to continue. We feel guilty because we are no longer able to create the safe harbour that our children deserve. But we hope and believe that we will manage to hold on to friendship through what lies ahead."

The couple share three daughters together; Maud Angelica, 13, Leah Isadora, 11, and Emma Tallulah, seven, and have confirmed that they plan to share custody of the children.

In July representatives confirmed that Diane Kruger and Joshua Jackson had ended their ten year romance.

The news came as a big shock to fans, not least because the couple had only just moved into a home in New York City together. A source close to the pair simply said that they had "decided to separate and remain friends".

Mary J Blige and her husband Kendu Isaacs called time on their 12 year marriage in July.

"Ms. Blige is saddened to say it is true that she has filed for divorce, saying sometimes things don't work out how we hoped they would," her publicist Karynne Tencer confirmed in a statement. "But there is a divine plan and a reason for everything."

Lisa Marie Presley ended her 10 year marriage to Michael Lockwood in June 2016. The star submitted her divorce papers on 13 June citing irreconcilable differences, and requested full custody of the couple's seven-year-old twin daughters, Harper and Finley.

It was Lisa Marie's fourth marriage. She was married to musician Danny Keough – with who she has two children, model Riley and son Benjamin – from 1988 until 1994, and then went on to have high-profile unions with Michael Jackson and Nicolas Cage.

In June 2016, Dennis Quaid's Kimberly wife filed for divorce,
signalling an end to their tumultuous 12 year marriage. The couple, who
are parents to twins Thomas Boone and Zoe Grace, had a rollercoaster
romance; Kimberly first filed for divorce in March 2012, but withdrew
the paperwork one month later, only for Dennis to file in November of
that same year.

Confirming their decision to finally call time on their marriage,
Dennis said in a statement: "After careful consideration, Kimberly and I
have decided to end our 12 year marriage. The decision was made
amicably and with mutual respect towards one another. We will always
remain great friends and devoted partners in raising our children."

The couple announced their separation by releasing a joint statement in April 2016.

The statement read: "It is with tremendous sadness that we have come to the decision to divorce. We enter this next phase with continued friendship, love and respect for one another and the shared focus of caring for our son.

"We ask that you respect our and, most importantly, our child's privacy during this time."

The couple, who share one son, Brendan, married in a small ceremony in 2006, and have kept their marriage relatively out of the spotlight ever since.

The F1 racer confirmed the end of his one year marriage to Jessica Michibata just before Christmas. The couple, who tied the knot in Hawaii in December of 2014, parted on friendly terms, with a spokesman for the Formula One star stating: "Jenson and Jessica have decided to go their separate ways and it is very amicable. There is no-one else involved."

Gigi Hadid and Joe Jonas split after just five months together. The couple quickly became inseparable after they decided to take their friendship to the next level, but work commitments were reportedly the reason behind their break up.

"Joe and Gigi's relationship recently ended. Nothing serious happened... It wasn't a dramatic break up. It was just hard to make it work with their schedules. They will definitely remain friends," a source told in October People.

The couple's 17-year marriage ended in 2013, much to everyone's surprise.

"He's probably the sweetest guy I've ever met. He is the sweetest, he is a loving, kind, low-key person so my intuition was still great on marrying a good person," Dina said about her then 83-year-old husband.

After three biological children (and one he adopted from Heidi's previous relationship), plus vow renewals, exotic get-aways and a seven-year-long relationship, the couple revealed they had grown apart.

Courteney Cox split from her rocker fiancé Johnny McDaid in November. American publication TMZ reported at the time that Johnny, 39, packed his bags and moved out of Courteney's home in Los Angeles shortly before Thanksgiving.

The couple decided to call off their wedding, although they fought hard to save their relationship.

Sources say the pair attended counselling to try and work out their issues, but they mutually decided to end their relationship.